RidgeSpring 2014

BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL

EducationCharacter

at the

Belying the weather we’ve experienced in central Virginia, this edition of The Ridge offers hopeful evidence that

Spring is here.

Of course, by writing this statement I may be cursing us with at least one more snowstorm and an ice-covered lake.

At least the students in the BRS Polar Bear Club will be pleased!

If this is the first you’re learning of the Polar Bear Club, I encourage you to see our website and accompanying

videos. I assure you it takes no small amount of grit to take the leap with David Welty, the BRS educator who leads

the club. Grit, along with attributes like honor, integrity, and dedication to service, is a focal point of the Blue Ridge education; it’s our

aim for students to develop these traits while exploring chemistry and learning how to write a persuasive essay (and jumping into the

lake now and then).

Blue Ridge boys are with us for some formative years. Their experiences here impact significantly the men they become and in many

cases are truly transformative. We take seriously the role we play in a student’s academic development; no less serious is our charge to

help him grow up and become a man of character.

It’s this character education, interwoven throughout the academic and co-

curricula, that is the feature of this edition of The Ridge. I am excited about

the purposeful programs developing under the leadership of Vinton Bruton,

our Assistant Headmaster for Co-curricular Programs (and history teacher,

advisor, duty captain, and avid outdoorsman).

Our team believes that the key to character education is the approach.

Character development is not an isolated event; the dynamic occurs over time

and is the result of many interactions and experiences across all areas of life.

Character education at BRS, therefore, is not a separate entity. Teachers from

all departments, coaches of all sports, dorm parents, advisors and leaders of

clubs all incorporate character lessons into their daily classes, practices and

meetings.

Vinton continues to do a great deal of research into character education.

Most notably, he has been selected to participate in an Action Research

project by the International Boys School Coalition. Vinton’s research will

focus on the ways in which boys implicitly develop character and what

preconditions are necessary for effective character education. This will be a

perfect fit with our plans on campus.

I hope to see you at the Vintage Blue Ridge event on May 10th or at

Graduation on May 24. You are most welcome on campus at any time, and

your engagement with the School is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Headmaster William “Trip” Darrin III

GreetingsfromSt. George!

ContentsWalking the Walk: Character Education at Blue Ridge School 2

Baron Scholarship Program 8

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 9

Wine Educator and Enthusiast: John Buckey ‘88 10

Vintage Blue Ridge: Celebrating Great American Wines 11

It Matters! Advancement Update 12

Learning and Service: Outdoor Program Volunteers 14

Winter Sports Wrap-ups 16

BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

Mr. William A. Darrin III, Headmaster

Dr. Kevin Miller, Associate Headmaster for Academics

Mr. D. Franklin Daniels, Jr., Associate Headmaster for Advancement & Admissions

Mr. Vinton Bruton, Assistant Headmaster for Co-curricular Programs

The Ridge: Editor/Graphic Designer: Ms. Hilde Keldermans

Writers: Ms. Hilde Keldermans, Mr. Dan Dunsmore, Mr. John Hetzel

Principal Photography: Mr. Michael Hallstrom

Additional Photography: Ms. Hilde Keldermans

www.BlueRidgeSchool.com

We focus on helping boys reach their potential through personalized,

structured, innovative learning practices in a college-preparatory, all-

boarding community.

Blue Ridge School admits qualified young men of any race, color,

national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and

activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.

Blue Ridge School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies,

admission policies, financial assistance and loan programs, athletic and

other administered programs.

ON THE COVER:At Blue Ridge School Character Education

is interwoven in all aspects of a boy’s

education. For example Chemistry teacher

Mr. Joe Reilly, pictured with Salman

Almokbel ’15, uses the Manhattan Project

as an assignment that requires his students

to reflect on the ethical issues surrounding

the science of splitting the atom, as well as

creating and using an atomic bomb.

Walkby Dan Dunsmore

Ask the powers that be at just about any educational facility in the world if

they address character development with their students, and the answer

will likely be, “Sure. It’s a part of what we do.” What does it even mean

to make character education one part of the curriculum? Fit it in when

you can? No follow up? No hands on?

When Blue Ridge faculty and students speak of character development on the St. George,

Virginia, campus, they will more often than not describe it as EVERYTHING we do. I would

even go so far as to suggest that character development at the Ridge is the most important

quality that separates us from the large crowd of other independent schools.

It’s difficult to pinpoint where character education begins at Blue Ridge, but I’ll say for

argument’s sake that it begins with the signing of the Code of Conduct. All students and faculty

sign it at the beginning of the school year. The signed code is then posted in every classroom

and dorm room to inspire the community to do right in thought and action. The Code of

Conduct includes our Honor Code as well as such core values as integrity, respect, moral

courage and being a brother’s keeper. In the hustle and bustle of each school day, these core

values might be forgotten. But not at Blue Ridge School.

Character education is in every activity and program we offer: Residential Life, the Prefect and

Proctor Program, the Honor Council, Ridge Rites of Passage, Chapel Services, Community

Service, Saturday Morning Programs, Athletics, the Active Arts, the Outdoor Program, and

the Disciplinary Committee and Classroom Instruction.

I thank Assistant Headmaster for Co-curricular Programs Vinton Bruton, Director of

Performing Arts and Alumni Parent Jerry King and Residence Life Coordinator Hans

Hermanson ’97 for their input. Their insight is either directly quoted or paraphrased in much

of this article.

CHARACTER EDUCATION AT BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL

Walkingthe

“At Blue Ridge School, the phrase ‘My Brother’s

Keeper’ is not just a creed but a way of life. It means

having your friend’s back in hard times or helping

someone out who might be new to something. Simple

little things go a long way, and that is what Blue Ridge

students are taught to live by. Many students come to

this school to find a suitable learning environment or

play for a State Championship team, but they also end

up gaining a new family, one that watches over them

and guides them to be inspirations to the rest. In the

end, we all graduate as brothers. We will always be

each other’s keepers.” - Harrison Gant ’14, Four-Year

Boy, Prefect and Member of the Honor Council

The true indicators that character education at

Blue Ridge happens in very meaningful ways are

in the students’ takeaways. Be sure to read their

perspectives that accompany this article.

2

RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Learning to live with a roommate is a skill that many people

don’t acquire until their college days. It’s probably fair to say

that many adults still struggle with it. At Blue Ridge, learning the

art of compromise and helpful, supportive conversation is at

the heart of dorm living. Mr. Bruton describes the importance

of residential life as follows: “The boys spend more time in the

dorms than in any other place so it stands to reason they should

learn many life lessons there. Living with a roommate is a new

skill for the vast majority of our students. Learning to respect

other’s space, possessions and opinions will serve them well

at college and in life. Learning to keep one’s personal space

organized and clean should pay dividends in the classroom.

Doing one’s fair share of mundane chores such as cleaning

community spaces and emptying the trash teaches responsibility.”

Mr. Hermanson adds, “By following the character example set

forth by the Hall Parents and supporting duty faculty members

who work in the dorms, the Residence Life Curriculum is

designed to be a compliment to the Character Education

Program in that it teaches boys to contribute positively to

communal living. This can be seen in their working with others to

maintain their private and communal environments and learning

that every student matters.”

Walking

“Every student matters and is expected to positively contribute to the

community, every student is expected to work with other students

to maintain their living environment, every student should learn a

healthy respect for the needs and rights of other students and behave

in a way that earns the respect of his peers, and every student is

expected to live by the Honor Code and Code of Conduct.”

- An excerpt from the Residence Life Curriculum

PREFECTS AND PROCTORS Students earn these vital

leadership roles through their proven character development

track record. Being a strong leader requires a student to develop

the skills of negotiation, leading by example, sense of humor and

patience in the face of adversity. The goal is to train leaders who’ll

lead by example, with empathy and with an attitude of service

rather than privilege. Prefects and proctors definitely have to walk

the walk because they’re under constant scrutiny by their peers.

They are expected to help facilitate a safe atmosphere where

the students feel a true sense of community and security. They

should be the leading examples of the BRS Code of Conduct and

make every effort to garner the respect of every student.

Peng Kamonprapasawat ’13 and Hassan Dasuki ’13

3

CHAPEL SERVICESThe Reverend David McIlhiney, an Episcopal priest, conducts

the services that take place two mornings a week as well on

Sunday evenings. He makes a special effort to reinforce the faiths

of students from Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist backgrounds

as all students are expected to attend these services. The most

meaningful services for me are those that involve students or

faculty members sharing their personal experiences of character

development. These talks often lead to further discussions during

advisory time. The Lessons and Carols service, a full-community

celebration of Christmas, is also a highlight each year.

RIDGE RITES OF PASSAGE Director of Outdoor Programming Mr. Tony Brown coordinates

this program that gives students the chance to accomplish

something outside their comfort zone as a way to build character.

The possibilities are endless, and Mr. Brown encourages students

to come up with their own ideas. When the freshmen complete

the four-day Wilderness Orientation Trip, when the sophomores

run for leadership positions during the spring trimester, when the

juniors write essays on “What it Means to be a Man” and when

the seniors complete overnight solos on the mountain, they are

fulfilling character-building rites of passage.

HONOR COUNCILStudents also serve alongside faculty members on this important

council. Students’ character certainly develops as they confess

their errors in the areas of lying, cheating or stealing, and other

students then discuss what the most constructive consequence

might be for the student and the community. These are often

very difficult decisions. Mr. Bruton writes, “Our Honor Council

is responsible for enforcing our Honor Code, though in the

larger picture everyone shares this responsibility. This process

offers the Honor Council members a chance to make decisions

that most high school students don’t have to make. It also offers

opportunities for students to learn from their mistakes and make

amends while protecting our Honor Code.”

Frankie Harris ‘14 and Max Morgan ‘14

SATURDAY MORNING PROGRAMSOur Saturday morning programs give students the opportunity to

hear guest speakers who challenge them in the areas of character

development. At times, bad examples of character are shown as a

springboard to discussions of good character in advisory groups.

At other times, the student’s moral and/or ethical judgment is

challenged by real-life scenarios, again explored in large-group

discussions or in advisory groups. These programs offer a

chance for the whole school to pause and focus on a particular

issue. To be specific, during one recent Saturday morning,

the boys listened to Chazz Woodson ’01 discuss how he has

applied character lessons as an Ivy League student-athlete and

professional lacrosse player. On another recent Saturday, the

students discussed Lance Armstrong’s admission of blood doping

and linked that to academic integrity.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Students and faculty take advantage of many opportunities

throughout the year to serve the Blue Ridge community, the

Greene County community and the world community. Family

members of faculty and staff also often participate, and it is this

large-group effort, this all hands on deck, that is the strength of

our community service. Mr. Brown coordinates such efforts as

volunteering at the Salvation Army and Meals on Wheels. Our

students definitely get their hands dirty as they peel apples, then

stir the pot to make Apple Butter to benefit Operation Smile

(organized by Dr. Kevin Miller and Mrs. Carrie Woods). They

work in small teams to pack meals for Stop Hunger Now. Many

of the students participate in Shop with a Baron, which gives

local children a chance to buy Christmas gifts for their families.

Many others take advantage of the opportunity to donate blood

to Virginia Blood Services, an activity that is coordinated by

librarian and English teacher Mr. Jon Baker along with Honor

Society members. In all of these opportunities, students are

definitely walking the walk of building character.

ACTIVE ARTSThis is the term that Mr. King uses to describe the various arts

programs at Blue Ridge School. His comments, which he first

made at the 2014 New York Auxiliary’s Blue and White Ball,

follow: “I am convinced that the boys of Blue Ridge School are

made more alive, become better men for having stepped up, into

the realm of what I call the active arts. The core part of being

human is being creative. Some have (or can develop) an eye for

visual art; some have or can learn to perform music; sometimes

they will do this solo, sometimes in a group; sometimes

producing sound with just their own voices, sometimes with

instruments; some will pursue drama. Experience with the arts

has become a part of the core requirements for graduation for

every Blue Ridge boy. We’re going for excellence. We’re doing

all we can as teachers and administrators to teach boys to become

good men, fully human, potential realized, with courage and a

sense of adventure firmly in place to take on a world’s worth

of challenges, some of them pretty intimidating. And to leave a

mark, a good one. Because, by the time they are handed a Blue

Ridge diploma, they will know – by experience – that they have

what it takes to step up and really do something.”

ATHLETICSIt’s a bit cliché to say that athletics builds character. What makes

Blue Ridge different? Every student at the School is expected

to participate in a sport at some point in the year. Nearly every

faculty member and several staff members coach during at least

one season. Sports aren’t relegated to just a select few. Everyone

in the community learns how to deal gracefully and productively

with winning and losing. It’s that important to character education

at the School. Success and failure are part of life so sports offer a

relatively low cost, high repetition method of learning how to do

so.

“Blue Ridge has been teaching me to help others as much as possible, and community service is emphasized. Through my experience at Blue Ridge, my

personality has developed because I realized, if I work as hard as I possibly can for something that I want, there is not much that can stop me. I have become

determined to be successful and help others achieve their goals because of my experiences at Blue Ridge.” - Clayton Turner, Jr. ’15, Proctor

“One of Blue Ridge’s top priorities is to help its students develop into moral, good-mannered and successful young men. The steps Blue Ridge takes with its structured

schedule and community gatherings, such as Saturday morning programs, allow students to live in a tight-knit community where they become respectable young men

in their own ways. The School stresses its desire for students to be themselves because it is vital in the process of developing as a man. Students at Blue Ridge display

this important quality by performing acts of kindness on a daily basis all over campus, which demonstrates that Blue Ridge’s intention to develop us as young men is

working.” - Greg Wasserstrom ’14, Prefect and member of the Disciplinary Committee

5

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION Faculty members constantly look for opportunities to

teach character development through classroom readings,

discussions and writing assignments. Those assignments that

have worked particularly well are shared in a systematic way

with fellow faculty members so that the opportunities may

increase throughout the year.

English and history teacher Pete Bonds recently offered the

following assignments. After reading Lord of the Flies, students

in 9th Grade English wrote an essay in which they explored

how the plot of the novel might have been different had

the main characters been Blue Ridge students adhering to

the BRS Code of Conduct. Additionally, students wrote

about whether or not it is realistic to expect human beings to

adhere to the ideals of the BRS Code of Conduct when they

find themselves in a dire emergency as do the characters

in Lord of the Flies. In such a situation would the Code of

Conduct be ignored or embraced? Mr. Bonds’ US History

and Government students discussed this topic: Is the idea

of “Brother’s Keeper,” the foundation of the BRS Code of

Conduct, compatible with those ideals set forth in America’s

founding documents -- the Declaration of Independence

and the US Constitution? To what degree did the authors

of these documents believe that Americans ought to act

as “brother’s keepers?” How does government act as

a”brother’s keeper” today, and should it? What are the

potential downsides to being a “brother’s keeper?” and of

understanding yourself to be a “brother’s keeper?”

Also consider Chemistry teacher Joe Reilly’s Manhattan

Project assignment. “After viewing the documentary about

America’s development of the atomic bomb, consider the

following questions. Can a scientific discovery be inherently

good or evil? Why or why not? What are some of the

arguments FOR America using atomic weaponry to end

WW II? What are some of the arguments AGAINST

America using atomic weaponry to end WW II? How did

the development of atomic weaponry lead to the Cold War?

Was it necessary to use the bombs after developing them?

Was it necessary to drop the second bomb on Nagasaki?

Was the use of atomic weaponry significantly different

than the fire-bombing campaign that was already targeting

Japanese civilians? Was either form of bombing ethically

defensible? Write a 300-word minimum reflection on the

ethical issues surrounding the science of splitting the atom.”

OUTDOOR PROGRAM In the fifteen years that Mr. Brown has been at Blue Ridge,

the Outdoor Program has become integral to the character

development of the students. Canoes, the climbing tower,

high ropes course and Frisbee golf course are just a few of

the many ways in which students may involve themselves in

outdoor activities on campus. Off-campus activities include

skiing, climbing, hiking and swimming. Blue Ridge students

do them all. The Outdoor Program offers boys a chance to

push their physical and emotional limits against an absolute,

unchanging standard. The mountains, a river, the weather

in general, won’t change because a student isn’t strong

enough or smart enough to overcome them. The student

either adjusts his methods or he fails. Coming up against that

unchanging force offers a student a chance to assess himself

and learn from the experience.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEEThis body of students and faculty sees students who have

run afoul of our rules to the extent that the Dean of Students

feels it’s necessary that a more serious consequence be

considered. Some of the best character lessons are learned

in these situations for both the potentially guilty student as

well as the students who must sit in judgment of their peers.

Both the students and faculty on the Committee sometimes

lose sleep considering what consequences best fit the

infractions. I have been a member of this Committee for the

past two years, and I can attest to the emotional testimony

at times as well as to the heart-wrenching discussions among

Committee members that follow. It is definitely a character

building process.

“By being a student leader, I’m able to set an example for my peers and lead

them on a path to become true Blue Ridge Barons. By serving with other student

leaders such as prefects, proctors, Honor Council members, etc., I also learn

what it means to be a part of the School’s community. With the knowledge I obtain

in my everyday activities, I can pass on what I know through my actions and

hopefully impact the community in a positive way as I help other students become

responsible men.”

- Nana Poku ’14, member of the Disciplinary Committee

6

“Blue Ridge has always had an emphasis on

character education and development. When

I was a student in the 80’s, we were taught a

lot of critical thinking, ethical reasoning and

moral reasoning. Blue Ridge has expanded

on these topics to include health education

and promotion, non-bullying, conflict

resolution and civic duties. My son Clayton

and his classmates have been on civic field

trips delivering meals, and this is another

activity that Blue Ridge has added to its

character education efforts since my days as

a student. Mentoring underclassmen is one

more area where Blue Ridge has made an

effort to expand on character education. It is

good to see these young men taking pride in

helping each other out, no matter what grade

they are.”

- Clayton Turner, Sr., ’87,

Class Agent, current Parent Council Officer,

and father to Clayton, Jr. ’15

From left are Clarence Han ’17, Jason

Hess ‘15 and Harrison Gant ’14 (on top).

BARON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Blue Ridge School’s

Baron Scholarship Program

offers substantial scholarships

to boys applying for the 9th grade

and who exemplify character and

potential leadership.

For more information, please contactMr. James H. “Jamie” Miller, ’94 at434-992-0528jmiller@blueridgeschool.com

Interested applicants will complete• A BRS application;

• An essay on his interest in BRS and

the qualities and talents he can

bring to the school; and

• A campus visit with his parents for

a day of tours, interviews and

meetings with faculty,

administrators and Trustees.

lue Ridge School has designated $105,000 to

provide five annual scholarships for qualified

young men who are US citizens and rising 9th

graders.

A Baron Scholarship applicant will demonstrate these qualities:

• a respect for himself and the world around him;

• an appreciation of an honor code and an understanding of

his role in it;

• an experience in team activities whether athletic, academic or

artistic, as well as an aspiration to play a leadership role;

• an interest in a variety of extra-curricular activities which may

include the outdoors, community service and faith-based activities.

While good grades and the ability to maintain them are important, the

applicant’s character and potential leadership qualities will carry

significant weight in the scholarship decisions.

Baron Scholarships may be renewed each year once awarded, based on

the student’s good performance.

Candidates must be referred to the School by a qualified source

(educational consultant, school counselor or teacher, current or

former BRS parent, alumnus or friend.)

In 2014, awards will be offered on or before June 15th.

The deadline to accept the award is June 30th.

B

8

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES

Adams State CollegeArcadia UniversityArizona State UniversityArt Institute of RaleighAuburn UniversityAveritt UniversityBaldwin Wallace UniversityBarry UniversityBelmont Abbey CollegeBirmingham Southern CollegeBrevard CollegeBucknell UniversityCanisus CollegeCase Western Reserve UniversityCoe CollegeCoker CollegeColorado Mesa University (2)Colorado State University (2)Curry College (2)Davis & Elkins CollegeDelaware County Community CollegeDodge City CCDickinson CollegeDrexel University (3)East Carolina UniversityElon UniversityEmory & Henry CollegeEvergreen State CollegeFerrum CollegeFlagler CollegeFt. Lewis CollegeFranklin & MarshallGeorgia Tech UniversityHampden-Sydney College (2)Harrisburg UniversityHartwick CollegeHigh Point University (2)Hofstra UniversityHumbolt State UniversityHuntingdon College

Illinois CollegeIthaca CollegeJames Madison UniversityJohnson & Wales UniversityLangston UniversityLawrence UniversityLongwood UniversityLouisburg CollegeLoyola University, New OrleansLynn UniversityLynchburg College (2)Lynn UniversityMars Hill College (2)Marymount UniversityMedaille CollegeMesa Community CollegeMercyhurst UniversityMiami University, OhioMichigan State UniversityMississippi State UniversityMount St. Mary’s UniversityNew York UniversityNorth Central CollegeNorthern Arizona University (2)Ohio Northern UniversityOld Dominion University (2)Penn State, AltoonaPenn State, BerksPepperdine UniversityPresbyterian CollegePurdue UniversityRadford UniversityRandolph Macon CollegeRutgers UniversityQueens University of CharlotteSamford UniversityShenandoah UniversitySt. Andrew’s Presbyterian College (2)St. Joseph’s University

SUNY AlbanySUNY FredoniaStetson UniversitySyracuse UniversityTulane UniversityUniversity of Alabama (3)University of ArizonaUniversity of Arkansas (2)University of BuffaloUniversity of California, Irvine (3)University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, RiversideUniversity of California, San DiegoUniversity of Colorado, Boulder (2)University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsUniversity of HartfordUniversity of Illinois, UrbanaUniversity of Indiana (2)University of KansasUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of La VerneUniversity of Miami, OhioUniversity of Mississippi (2)University of New HavenUniversity of North Carolina, GreensboroUniversity of RochesterUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of Virginia (2)University of WashingtonVillanova UniversityVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Wesleyan CollegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern State Colorado UniversityWingate UniversityWichita State UniversityWofford College (2)Xavier UniversityYoung Harris College

Congratulationsto theClass

of

2014

9

John Buckey ’88 found

his love of wine at an

early age. Although his

class nominated him as

most likely to return to

Blue Ridge as a history

teacher, John realized that studying and

teaching others about the all-encompass-

ing topics surrounding wine was extremely

enticing and very tangible.

Currently, John is the Director of Sales

and Marketing at the historic Hanzell

Vineyards just north of the town of

Sonoma, California, on the south western

slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains.

In 1992 upon graduating from Wash-

ington College in Maryland, he worked

as an assistant manager of a restaurant.

He found that what he enjoyed most was

running the wine program. From there he

worked his way from retailer to distribu-

tor to sales representative and then into

distributor management, selling some of

the best wines from around the world.

During his seven years at Churchill Dis-

tributors, he received multiple awards to

include Sales Representative of the Year

and the Gloria Ferrer Master’s Award.

While managing eight sales representa-

tives, he was also an instructor in the

company’s Sales Training Program and

its Certification of Beverage Professionals

courses.

In early 2002 John was excited to accept

a position managing sales in the Mid-At-

lantic for Treasury Wine Estates, owners

of the iconic Penfolds Winery and many

other notable Australian producers. With

two years of proven success, Treasury

relocated him to Napa, California, to man-

age ten states around the country. After a

few mergers and acquisitions, the culture

changed, and John joined Constellation

Brands — the largest premium wine com-

pany in the world — managing ten states

on the West Coast. Although excited and

challenged to be in such a large company

of wines, he felt too far removed from the

essentials of production and authenticity

of smaller producers.

John had been collecting the wines of

Hanzell Vineyards for many years, and,

while visiting the winery to pick up an

order, the opportunity arose to fill the

WineEducator Enthusiast

John Buckey ’88

&

10

O n May 10, 2014, the inaugural Vintage Blue Ridge will be held at the

renowned Grelen Nursery in Somerset, Virginia. The event celebrates

American wine and viticulture featuring a tasting led by BRS alumni

Tom Payette ’80 (featured in The Ridge, Fall 2013) and John Buckey

’88 (featured on the left).

Tom has deep roots in the Virginia wine industry and John works closely with some

of the finest California labels. Together they will share their perspectives on this

fascinating industry, offer a tasting of some of their favorites, and show all involved

what two great Blue Ridge alumni can do!

Two BRS Trustees are chairing the event – Wendi Smith and Page Sullenberger.

Tickets are $95 each or $175 for a couple. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m.

and includes a cocktail hour, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a full wine tasting and the

opportunity to peruse a truly unique silent auction - all at Grelen’s gorgeous Virginia

Piedmont setting.

Proceeds to benefit Blue Ridge School.

To reserve your tickets or to become a sponsor, go towww.BlueRidgeSchool.com/americanwines

or call Franklin Daniels or JC Ignaszewski at 434-985-2811.

CELEBRATING GREAT AMERICAN WINES

position of National Sales Director. This

role consisted of many public appearances

around the country while managing sales

through the distributor network. Because

of the added distribution around the

country, visitors and sales at the winery

increased dramatically, and the role of Di-

rector of Sales and Marketing was created

for John in May 2013. Now he manages

the hospitality team and is an integral part

of the executive team at Hanzell Vine-

yards.

He is a proud member of the Society of

Wine Educators in which he holds the

title of Certified Specialist of Wine, an

exam that is rumored to have only a 33

percent pass rate.

Enthusiast

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

11

Blue Ridge School relies on the Annual Fund

and its generous supporters to make impactful

differences in the classrooms, on the field and in

every aspect of a boy’s experience at Blue Ridge. If

you have not made your Annual Fund gift, there is

still time to do so. Please send in your donation on

or before May 31st and make a difference. As you

can see, it matters!

The Annual Fund In 2013/14, the BRS Annual Fund goal is $800,000 – nearly 10% of the operating budget.

As of March 31, the Annual Fund was on track to make its target, with about $200,000

remaining to raise before May 31.

We are very pleased to report that participation is up significantly from recent years with

good numbers of new donors and returning donors joining – or re-joining – the team.

The Annual Fund is always a down-to-the-wire race – making it exciting every year. If

you have not yet made your gift, please do so. At this time of year, unrestricted gifts are

particularly appreciated as they help balance the overall operating budget and set the stage

for next year.

Each year, our Advancement team members hear from scores of alumni, parents and

friends who tell us the impact Blue Ridge had on themselves or their families. The best

reason to give is a simple one. It matters!

Matters!It

12

BRS Faculty CommonsGOAL: $960,000 RAISED TO-DATE:(cash and pledges) $615,009 REMAINING NEED: $344,991

During the February Trustee Meetings, staff were given the green light to pursue the

final documentation steps needed before construction begins on the Baron Athletic

Complex. It is hoped that these studies and permits will be secured by August 2014 so

that early site preparations may begin in the 2014 - 2015 academic year.

From a fundraising perspective, the project continues to move forward. Commitments

totaling nearly 75% of the $1.98M projected have been secured, leaving $621,000 to go.

Several elements have been fully funded, including the Varsity Soccer Fields, the Track,

and The Terrace, a beautiful new element which will serve as the entrance to the Track

and Field Center.

Currently, the fundraising focus is on the completion phase of the artificial turf field

(lacrosse, soccer and football), the golf center and the launch of the baseball initiative.

Having more than 60 percent of our faculty living on campus remains a top priority

at Blue Ridge today. Toward this end, two new faculty cottages have been built and

are fully endowed, totaling more than $600,000 raised. These two new residences are

adjacent to Gibson Chapel and have been carefully designed to accentuate the Chapel’s

extraordinary architectural features. Room for two more cottages remains in this area. It

is expected that fundraising for those will resume once the Baron Athletic Complex is

fully funded and under construction.

Of equal importance, a concurrent project to refurbish several other existing faculty

residences on campus is now well underway. Two are complete with two more soon to

be underway.

GOAL: $1,980,000 RAISED TO-DATE: (cash and pledges) $1,358,938 REMAINING NEED: $ 621,062

Baron Athletic Complex

WWW.BLUERIDGESCHOOL.COM/SUPPORT

13

The Spring Outdoor

participants recently

volunteered with the

American Chestnut

Foundation at an Orchard

near Charlottesville.

Mohannad Almofadhi ’15, Ian Burgin

’14, Fielding Castle ’15, Grant Fessler

’15, Jamie Fletcher ’16, Eric Hong ’17,

Nick Parnell ’15 and Mohamed Shokeir

’16 accompanied Mr. Cory Woods

and spent an afternoon measuring the

trees’ circumferences to support the

foundation’s scientific studies. The

American Chestnut Foundation works

to reintroduce the tree that was once the

dominant species in the Appalachian

canopy. The “chestnut blight” is an air-

born fungus that still limits the growth

of the species that continues to sprout

from the long-surviving underground root

systems in our mountains.

At the turn of the 19th century Chinese

Chestnut trees were imported for their

orchard quality as they provided easy

harvest that was consumed readily

throughout the region. However, these

orchard trees harbored a fungus to which

the Chinese trees were resistant. The

American variety could not cope with

the invasive fungus. What followed was a

drastic change to our local ecosystem and

livelihood for many in this area.

American Chestnuts comprised at least

one in every four trees in Appalachia.

Wildlife thrived from the unusually large

mast or seeds that fell from the trees each

autumn. Pigs, the primary livestock of the

mountaineers, were left to roam free to

fatten-up on the bounty. Early settlers also

used the chestnut’s high quality lumber for

their cabins, barns and fence posts.

In 1983 the American Chestnut

Foundation began the long process

of using traditional breeding methods

to produce a chestnut with dominant

American traits (tall, fast-growing canopy

tree) that would be blight resistant. Starting

with a 50/50 Chinese-American species,

they “back-cross” bred the trees back to

Americans; each successive generation

breeding out the orchard characteristics of

the Chinese species yet maintaining blight

resistance.

Now six generations deep, the Foundation

has developed a hopeful “Restoration

Chestnut” – a 15/16 American (1/16

Chinese) tree which has been planted

in orchards throughout Virginia and up

and down the East Coast. Once the test

trees reach a certain size, they are ready

for inoculation – an injection of the

blight to test its resistance (our students’

measurements from this spring will help

support this step of the process). Each

tree is then meticulously tracked to study

which strands show success (those that

show evidence of the blight are cut and

burned to remove them from the gene

pool). The Foundation continues its work

to develop a successful cross-bred tree and

to build a deep gene pool so this species

may be reintroduced to the Appalachian

Mountains.

Each fall our students in the Mountain

Ecology class supplement their study of

invasive species with a trip to the Virginia

Department of Forestry’s office to help

the American Chestnut Foundation open

burs as well as test and sort the nuts from

local orchards.

“The important work being done by the

American Chestnut Foundation provides

an excellent learning opportunity for our

students. The work offers an important

connection to our local ecosystem and

a meaningful application of service-

learning,” explains Mr. Woods. The

process provides a practical example

of scientific method, experimentation,

sample size, control groups, genetics

and disease resistance used to solve real

problems.

Our students are offered a valuable lesson

in land and ecosystem management –

important concepts for the Outdoor

Program at Blue Ridge School. “We

teach our students by how we steward our

own mountain property,” concludes Mr.

Woods.

To learn more about this topic, visit

www.acf.org.

ServiceLearning&

by Cory Woods

Pictured left is Nick Parnell ‘15.

14

Service

Pictured left is Nick Parnell ‘15.

VARSITY WRESTLING Varsity Wrestling started the season with

a bang as senior Torian Pegram won

the gold medal at the Norfolk Academy

Wrestling Classic, and senior Nathan

Johnson earned the silver medal. Though

the team lacked wrestlers in some weight

classes, BRS acquitted itself admirably

in competition all season earning head-

to-head victories over Trinity Episcopal,

Roanoke Catholic, VES and Miller

School. Along with senior leaders Torian,

Nate, Jordan Edelman and Zach Bridges,

the competitive team included junior

Daniel Lecce. The season culminated

with Torian and Nate both wrestling

their way to gold medals at the VIC

Championship, while Jordan Edelman

won silver. The next weekend the champs

both placed second in the VISAA State

Wrestling Championship. Torian pinned

four opponents en route to the final

match where he lost 2 to 3 to his St.

Christopher’s opponent. Nate

pinned two opponents to

get to the finals where he

lost to St. Christopher’s

4 to 1.

VARSITY BASKETBALL

Varsity Basketball faced an uphill battle

this season as P. J. White, one of two

senior leaders on the squad, was lost to

injury in the preseason. Despite having

a young and inexperienced group, the

Barons faced a typically challenging

schedule. The season began with losses

to STAB and Carlisle. After a third loss

to Germantown Academy in the opening

round of the Bishop Walker Invitational

at St. Albans, the Barons were able to

regroup on day two of the tournament

with a big win against Bell Academy 82-

68. Coach Ramsey’s squad could not

springboard off the win, losing a string of

games before being bolstered by the mid-

season arrival of 6’10” sophomore transfer

Mamadi Diakite from Conakry, the capital

city of Guinea. The Barons changed

their tactics in mid-stream to adjust to

this talented inside player, and the squad

began to challenge some of the better

teams in the league. The team fell by only

one point to VISAA #1 State Tournament

seed VES at home and were outlasted

55-51 in a double overtime game against

LCA. The Barons played teams tough for

the balance of the season and notched a

second win over North Cross

51-46. Despite the difficult

season, the team stayed together and

should be contenders next year with the

majority of its starting lineup returning to

St. George. This includes Diakite, who

was 6th in the league in scoring average

(13.8/game) as well as blocks (5.8/game).

Diakite was named to the first team VIC

as a sophomore and is being recruited

by major universities such as UVA. Four

rising seniors figure to support Diakite as

the Barons look to work their way back

up to the top of the conference. Juan

Porta was 5th in the league in scoring

(14.8/game), Afanna Offor was 12th in the

league averaging 5.8 rebounds/game and

chipping in a healthy 9.2 points/game,

while Cal Ramsay and Noah Brooks each

averaged 6 points/game.

JV BASKETBALL BLUE

JV Blue Basketball had a

challenging time

gaining any traction

this winter due,

in part, to a slew

of interruptions

because of severe

winter conditions.

Seven of the team’s

final 10 games were

2014 Winter Sports Wrap-ups

VIC Champion Nate

Johnson ’14

VIC Champion

Torian Pegram ’14

by John Hetzel

16

JV Basketball WhiteMost Valuable Player – Albert CheMost Improved – Charles GaoCoach’s Award – Spencer Ammen

Indoor SoccerMost Valuable Player – Nana Ohemeng-TinyaseMost Valuable Player – Bibi OlaitanMost Improved Player – Siqiao YinCoach’s Award – Jacob Morgan

For more photos, click here. For a video of the BRS robot, Baron Bot, click here.

Varsity BasketballMost Valuable Player – Juan PortaMost Improved Player – Afanna OfforCoach’s Award – Cal Ramsey

Varsity WrestlingMost Valuable Player – Torian PegramMost Valuable Player – Nate JohnsonMost Improved Player – Zach BridgesCoach’s Award – Daniel Lecce

OutdoorsmenMost Improved Outdoorsmen – Nick HouCoach’s Award – Miles XuCoach’s Award – Andrew Marsh

JV Basketball BlueMost Valuable Player – Hampton PeaceMost Improved Player – John ZhengCoach’s Award – Joe Pence

either cancelled or postponed. Despite

starting the season 0-4, the Barons pulled

off a big upset on the road against arch-

rival Miller School 46-41 in a multiple-

overtime thriller. The squad followed that

win with an impressive victory over United

Christian Academy at home before winter

set in and cancellations played havoc with

the remaining games on the schedule.

JV BASKETBALL WHITE

JV White Basketball opened its season

with a 34-33 triumph over Covenant but

couldn’t rekindle the magic during its

ensuing four matches. Despite being on

the wrong end of the final scores, the

young team played with great enthusiasm,

and every player on the team improved as

the season progressed.

INDOOR SOCCER

Indoor Soccer played five tournaments

at the Collegiate School this winter

and compiled a record of 2-8-2. The

Barons competed hard and kept virtually

every match close while maintaining

a fun atmosphere. The team beat St.

Christopher’s 3-0 in the quarter-final of

the Valentine’s Day Classic Tournament

before falling to Steward 2-1 in the semi-

final.

The 2014 Winter Sports Awards Ceremony was held on March 19 at which our

student-athletes were honored for their participation in both competitive team sports

and afternoon activities. Coaches for the winter competitive teams gave varsity letters and

honored outstanding athletes for their courage, leadership and dedication to their sport

The winter sports include varsity, junior varsity, blue and white basketball teams, indoor

soccer, wresting, outdoorsmen, theater, art and robotics.

Pictured above from left: Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach Bill Ramsey ’83, Afanna Offor ’15,

Mamadi Diakite ’16, Juan Porta ’15, Cal Ramsey ’15 and Assistant Athletic Director and Assistant Varsity Coach

Bryan Puckett.

Winter Sports Awards

SAVE THE DATE ALUMNI LACROSSE WEEKEND

MAY 10, 2014For information, call Rory Bosek 434-992-0581

VIC Champion Nate

Johnson ’14

17

The Blue Ridge School Annual Fund

Matters!It

Blue Ridge School273 Mayo Drive

St. George, VA 22935